Twin bit wire wrapping tool



May 13, 1969 W. H. ATKINSON TWIN BIT WIRE WRAPPING TOOL Sheet Filed Nov.29, 1966 P mw E /Nl/E/vro/e W H ATK/NSON ATTORNEY May 13, 1969 FiledNOV. 29, 1966 W. H. ATKINSON TWIN BIT WIRE wRAPPING TooL Sheet May 13,1969 w. H. ATKINSON TWIN BIT WIRE WRAPPING TOOL 3 ors Sheet Filed NOV.29, 1966 United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 140-124 9 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A wire wrapping tool having twin wire lwrapping devicesfor simultaneously wrapping two wires about a pair of electricalterminals and having adjustable facilities for spacing the wire wrappingdevices to correspond to the spacing of the terminals.

In making wire wrapped connections, it is often desirable tosimultaneously wrap a pair of wires, or both ends of one wire, about apair of adjacent terminals. Heretofore, it was necessary to wrap firstone terminal and then the other. While certain complex automaticapparatus of the type shown in Patent 3,019,822 issued to O. D.Jacobson, Feb. 6, 1962, can be used to simultaneously make two wire-wrapped connections, such apparatus can only be utilized where `aterminal board can be placed on a movable table or in a position wheremovable wiring devices can be aligned with the proper terminals to bewrapped. In making wire wrapped connections to terminal boards which areinstalled, for example, in cabinets or frames, or which do not lendthemselves to the utilization of such complex wire wrapping apparatusfor other reasons, such as economic ones, it is necessary to haveoperators make wire wrapped connections to the terminals utilizing ahand tool.

Since some pairs of terminals may be spaced differently than other pairsof terminals on a terminal board, it is desirable that a hand tool beeasily adjustable to align the two wire wrapping devices to correspondto the spacing between different pairs of terminals. Furthermore, sincepairs of terminals may be arranged either vertically, horizontally, orangularly with respect to one another, it is desirable to have a wirewrapping tool which is capable of being adjusted to position the twowire wrapping devices in a series of positions so that the operator canhold the handle of the tool in a normal upright fashion, or in someother position if more comfortable, and still have the wire wrappingdevices aligned with the terminals so that the wire wrapped connectionscan be made with a minimum of effort.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide v a new andimproved wire wrapping tool for simultaneously making wire wrappedconnections to spaced terminals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved wirewrapping tool having twin wire wrapping devices therein and havingfacilities for moving these devices laterally with respect to oneanother to align them with correspondingly spaced terminals.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedwire wrapping tool having twin wire wrapping devices which are rotatedby flexible drive shafts and which are selectively spaced by using oneof a plurality of interchangeable sleeves.

It is another object of this invention to provide an Vadapter havingtwin wire wrapping devices mounted therein which can be rotated relativeto a motor housing to adjust the angular relationship of the wirewrapping devices with respect to the axis of the housing to correspondto the relative disposition of the terminals.

With these and other objects in view, the present inven- ICC tioncontemplates a wire wrapping tool having twin wire wrapping devicesmounted therein which are rotatable in opposite directions forsimultaneously wrapping two wires, or both ends of one wire, ontoadjacent terminals. Each wire wrapping device includes a bit and aspindle which is attached to driving facilities via a iiexible driveshaft. The flexible drive shafts transmit rotary motion from the drivingfacilities to the spindles regardless of the lateral positioning of thespindles relative to one another. A sleeve having two spaced parallelbores therethrough is positioned over the wire wrapping devices to holdthe devices a predetermined distance apart. A plurality ofinterchangeable sleeves having differently spaced bores therethrough areprovided and can easily be installed by an operator to rotatably holdthe wire wrapping devices in any desired spacing in order to properlyalign them with a pair of terminals. The sleeve is slidable over thewire wrap-ping devices and can be locked in a retracted position toexpose the ends of the bits to facilitate the loading of wiresthereinto. A second embodiment has a sleeve which is biased in aretracted position to expose the bits for loading. After wires areloaded into the bits, the operator pulls a trigger which forces thesleeve over the bits to capture the wires. Further movement of thetrigger actuates the driving facilities to rotate the wrapping dcvicesand wrap the wires loaded therein onto terminals.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a wire wrapping tool embodying the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of an adapter assembly showing -abit sleeve having two bores therein for spacing the wire wrapping bits adesired distance apart;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the adapter assembly shown in FIGS. l and 2;

FIG. 4 shows a bit sleeve having a projection on one side thereof whichpermits second level wire wrapped connections to be made to a pair ofterminals;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of a bit sleeve in its retractedposition exposing the ends of the two bits to illustrate how the wireleads of an electrical component are loaded therein;

FIG. 6 shows the sleeve in FIG. 5 having moved over the ends of the bitsto capture the wire leads within the two bits;

FIG. 7 illustrates the position that an operator bends the electricalcomponent prior to making the wire wrapped connections;

FIG. 8 is a view of a terminal board and a plurality of terminalsillustrating some of the different ways and subject the tool can be usedin making wire wrapped connections; and

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention having facilities for biasing the bit sleeve in aretracted position to expose the ends of the bits.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a wire wrapping tool 20 having ahandle 21 and a barrel 22. A conventional air or electrical motor (notshown) is enclosed within the barrel 22 and is actuated in response toretraction of a trigger 23. An adapter assembly generally designated as24 (shown separately in FIG. 2) has a shaft which engages a shaft 27(see FIG. 3) driven by the motor. The rear portion of the shaft 26 has aperipheral groove 28 formed therein which aligns with threeequidistantly spaced threaded apertures 29 in the barrel 22. Steel balls31, inserted into the apertures 29, are received within the groove 28and are held therein by set screws 32 to prevent longitudinal movementof the adapter assembly 24 with respect to the barrel 22. The set screws32 are adjusted to act against the balls 31 with sufficient force topermit rotary movement of the adapter assembly 24 relative to the barrel22, but not longitudinal movement.

The adapter 24 includes a housing 33 and an adapter sleeve 34 whichslides over a reduced diameter portion 35 of the housing 33 and isbiased away from the housing by a spring 36. Movement of the sleeve 34is guided by a pin 37 which extends through a slot 38 formed in portion35 of the housing 33. The sleeve 34 has an opening 39 for receiving abit sleeve 41 which is secured therein by a set screw 42. The bit sleeve41 has two parallel longitudinal bores 43 and 44 therethrough, as shownin FIG. 2, for rotatably holding and spacing a pair of wire wrappingbits 46 and 47. The bits have reduced diameter portions 48 and 49 whichtit within hollow spindles 51 and 52. Each reduced diameter portion hasa depression (not shown) formed therein for receiving a ball 54 which isinserted through a slot 56 in eac-h spindle. The slots 56 permit axialmovement of the bits 46 and 47 against springs 57 (FIG. 3) which controlthe back force on the wrap and eliminates the necessity of having theoperator move the tool backwards during the wrapping operation. Theballs 54 are held firmly in the depressions when the bit sleeve 41 isinserted over the spindles and secured to the sleeve 34. Thus, the bits46 and 47 rotate with the spindles 51 and 52. When it is desired tochange to a new bit, or to a bit of a different configuration, the bitsleeve 41 is unfastened from the adapter sleeve 34, balls 54 are removedfrom the slots 56 and the bits 46 and 47 are extracted from the spindles51 and 52. Then the new bits are inserted and the above procedure isreversed. Likewise the springs 57 may also be changed to vary the backforce as required, such as when a different diameter wire is to ybe beused.

Referring to FIG. 3, the spindles 51 and 52 have their ends connected toexible drive shafts 58 and l59. Flexible drive shaft 58 is connected toa shaft 61 having a gear 62 mounted thereon which meshes with a gear 63mounted on the shaft 26. When the motor is actuated, the gear 62 isdriven by the gear 63 and rotates flexible drive shaft 58, spindle 51,and bit 46 in a direction opposite to the rotation of flexible driveshaft 59, spindle 52, and bit 47. Thus, when the drive shaft 27 isdriven in a clockwise direction, bit 47 rotates in a clockwise directionwhile bit 46 rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Use of theflexible drive shafts 58 and 59, permits the use of a plurality ofinterchangeable bit sleeves 41 having bores spaced different distancesapart in order to make wire wrapped connections between terminals havingcorresponding distances therebetween. To replace a bit sleeve 41, setscrew 42 is loosened and the bit sleeve 41 is removed. A new bit sleevehaving differently spaced bores is then inserted over the bits 46 and 47and spindles 51 and 52 and set screw 42 is tightened. The bit sleeve 41can also be replaced by a sleeve such as sleeve 55, as shown in FIG. 4,having a projection 60 on one side thereof. This projection engages theterminal board and keeps the bits a predetermined distance away from theboard so that the two wires may be wrapped on a higher or second levelof the terminals.

A latch 64 is pivotally mounted to the housing 33 and has a hooked end65 which engages a recess 70 in the sleeve 34 to lock the sleeve in aretracted position to expose the ends of the bits 46 and 47 andfacilitate the loading of wires into longitudinal grooves 66 and 67 inthe periphery of the bits. The bits 46 and 47 also have axial recesses72 and 73 (FIG. 7) therein to receive the ends of the terminals.

i In securing an adapter assembly 24 to the barrel 22 of the wirewrapping tool, set screws 32 are loosened and a pair of balls 81 areplaced into opposed depressions 83 which are spaced at 90 intervalsabout the end of the barrel 22. The balls 81 are forced into thedepressions by springs 82 which are mounted in apertures in the housing33. The depressions are utilized for the purpose of locating the adapterin predetermined angular positions with respect to the barrel 22 andhandle 21 so that an operator can hold the handle 21 in its normalupright position, or in any other desired position, while wrappingterminals which are either horizontally or vertically disposed from oneanother. For example, if an operator desires to make wire wrappedconnections to two horizontally disposed terminals utilizing the toolshown in FIG. 1, he would first load a pair of wires into the bits 46and 47 with the bits remaining in the vertical position as shown. Afterthe bits are loaded, the adapter assembly 24 can be rotated by manuallyturning the housing 33 so that the balls 81 move out of the depressions83 and into the next set of depressions 90 away. By rotating the adapterassembly 24 clockwise, the wires are wrapped with the ends thereofdressed between the terminals as shown at 84 in FIG. 8. By rotating theadapter assembly counterclockwise, the wires are wrapped with the endsprojecting out from the terminals as shown at 85 in FIG. 8. Thus, theadjustable adapter permits an operator to select the Way in which thewires are wrapped on the terminals as well as aligning the bits with theterminals so that the tool can be held in a comfortable position whilemaking the wraps. In the event that it is desired to wrap primarilyhorizontally disposed terminals, another similar adapter can be securedto the barrel 22, having its bits 46 and 47 horizontally disposed to oneanother instead of vertically disposed as shown in FIG. 3.

In operation, the adapter sleeve 34 is pulled back against the force ofspring 36 toward the handle 21 until the hooked end 65 of the latch 64engages the recess 70 to lock the sleeve 34 in a retracted position.Since bit sleeve 41 is fastened to the adapter sleeve 34 by set screw42, the sleeve 41 is also retracted and exposes grooves 66 and 67 in thebits 46 and 47. A pair 0f wires or the wire leads 68 and 69 of anelectrical component 71 are inserted into the slots 66 and 67 as shownin FIG. 5. The latch 64 is then pivoted to release the adapter sleeve 34whereupon spring 36 urges the sleeve away from the housing 33 so thatthe bit sleeve 41 captures the leads 68 and 69 within the grooves 66 and67 of the bits 46 and 47 as shown in FIG. 6. At this point theelectrical component 71 is bent back until it lies adjacent to thesleeve 41 as shown in FIG. 7. This facilitates entry of the tool intothe wiring field. The operator then positions the tool so that a pair ofterminals enter recesses 72 and 73 inthe bits. Then the trigger 23 ispulled to actuate the motor and simultaneously wrap the wire leads 68and 69 onto the terminals. To wrap a new pair of differently spacedterminals, the operator merely removes the sleeve 41 and inserts in itsplace a similar sleeve having two differently spaced bores therein. Thebores rotatably hold the lbits 46 and 47 and laterally space them sothat the recesses 72 and 73 are in alignment with the new pair ofterminals.

It is to be noted that the subject tool may be utilized in manydifferent wire wrapping situations such as, for example, in wrapping theends of a twisted pair of wires onto two adjacent terminals, or inmaking a strap connection with a single piece of wire between twoadjacent terminals, as shown in FIG. 8, as well as in wrapping the wireleads of an electrical component onto adjacent terminals.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown an alternative embodiment of thewire wrap tool 20 shown in FIG. l. In this embodiment, a sleeve 89 isslidably mounted within a housing 91 and is urged rearward by a spring90 to expose the ends of the bits 46 and 47 to facilitate loading thewires thereinto. A guide pin 92 is mounted within the spring and has ashoulder 93 which is urged against a rear flanged portion 94 of thesleeve 89. A trigger assembly 96 is slidably mounted on pins 97 and 98which extend into slots (not shown) in the sides of the housing 91. Thetrigger assembly includes a trigger 99 having a projection 101 thereonwhich engages a motor trigger 102 when moved a predetermined distance. Apivotally mounted arm 103 has a roller 104 rotatably mounted on one endthereof and has the other end 106 in engagement with the anged portion94 of the sleeve 89. A sloped cam surface 107 on the trigger assembly 96engages the roller 104 when the trigger 99 is retracted and pivots thearm 103 so that the end 106 forces the sleeve 89 and the bit sleeve 41over the bits 46 and 47. Further retraction of the trigger 99 results inprojection 101 engaging the motor trigger 102 to actuate the motor androtate the bits. This embodiment permits one handed operation of thewiring tool. A spring 106 mounted on a guide pin 108 urges the triggerassembly 96 to the left after the operator releases the trigger 99. Theoperation of this alternative embodiment should be obvious by referringto the description of the operation of the preferred embodiment.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merelyillustrative of theapplication of the principles of this invention andthat numerous other arrangements and modifications may be made withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for wrapping a pair of wires onto a pair of spaced terminalscomprising:

a housing having a handle portion and a barrel portion; l

a motor mounted in said ybarrel portion and having a first shaftextending therefrom parallel to the axis of said Ibarrel, said firstshaft having a first gear fixed thereto;

a second shaft having a second gear fixed thereto mounted in said barrelso that said second gear engages said first gear;

a first flexible drive shaft having one end thereof fixed to said firstshaft;

a second flexible drive shaft having one end thereof fixed to saidsecond shaft;

a first wire wrapping element connected to said first flexible driveshaft;

a second wire wrapping element connected to said second exible driveshaft, said first and second wire wrapping elements projecting out ofsaid barrel portion;

means for rotatably holding said first and second wire wrapping elementsa predetermined distance apart so that said first and second wirewrapping elements are aligned with the pair of terminals; and

means for actuating said motor to rotate said first and second wirewrapping means.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rotatablyholding said rst and second wire wrapping elements comprises a sleevehaving a first longitudinal bore therethrough and a second longitudinalbore therethrough, said first and second bores being parallel to oneanother and laterally spaced a predetermined distance apart to alignsaid wire wrapping elements with said pair of spaced terminals.

3. A tool for wrapping wires onto pairs of spaced terminals having aparticular relative disposition comprising:

a housing having a barrel and a piston grip handle;

a motor mounted within said barrel;

an adapter housing having a pair of rotatable wire wrapping devicesmounted in one end;

a shaft rotatably mounted in the other end of said housing and havingmeans thereon for engaging said motor;

means interconnecting said wire wrapping devices and said shaft forrotating said devices in opposite directions upon actuation of saidmotor; and

means for :mounting said adapter housing to said barrel to preventrelative longitudinal movement but to permit selective rotary movementrelative thereto so that said pair of wire wrapping devices can beadjusted to correspond to the relative disposition of the pair ofterminals.

4. A tool for wrapping wires onto pairs of spaced terminals having aparticular relative disposition comprisa housing including a barrel anda pistol grip handle;

motor means fixed within said barrel;

an adapter assembly including an adapter housing;

a pair of selectively spaced wire wrapping bits rotatably mounted withinone end of said adapter housing;

a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the other end of said adapterhousing;

means interconnecting said drive shaft and said wire wrapping bits forrotating said bits in opposite directions to one another when rotarymotion is imparted to said drive shaft; and

means for mounting said adapter assembly to said barrel to permit saiddrive shaft to engage said motor means and to permit rotation of saidadapter housing relative to said barrel so that the position of saidwire wrapping bits corresponds to the relative disposition of saidterminals.

5. A tool for wrapping a pair of wires onto a pair of terminalscomprising:

a housing;

a motor mounted in said housing;

a pair of wire wrapping members, each having one end thereof extendinginto an end of said housing, each of the other ends of said membershaving a longitudnal groove in the periphery for receiving a wire and anaxial recess for receiving a terminal;

means interposed between said motor and said wire wrapping members forrotating said members upon actuation of said motor;

a sleeve disposed over said wire wrapping members, said sleeve mountedfor slidable movement relative to said housing between a first positionwherein a portion of said longitudinal grooves are exposed so that wirescan be inserted therein and a second position wherein said longitudinalgrooves are covered by said sleeves;

trigger means slidably mounted to said housing;

means responsive to the retraction of said trigger means for moving saidsleeve from said first position to said second position; and

means responsive to further retraction of said trigger means foractuating said motor.

6. A tool for simultaneously wrapping a plurality of wires onto aplurality of spaced terminals, which includes:

means for receiving and supporting a sleeve in which a plurality of wirewrapping members are mounted for rotation;

a plurality of flexible drive shafts, mounted for rotation within saidsupporting means, to which said wire wrapping members may be connected;and

means for rotating said flexible drive shafts simultaneously to rotatethe wire wrapping members and wrap wires, received by the wrappingmembers, about the terminals.

7. A tool for wrapping pairs of wires about pairs of spaced terminals,which comprises:

means for receiving and removably supporting one of a plurality ofsleeves in which pairs of wire wrapping bits are mounted for rotationand are spaced apart by distances equal to the distance between thepairs of spaced terminals;

a pair of exible drive shafts, mounted for rotation within saidsupporting means, towhich pairs of wire wrapping bits spaced apart byvarious distances may be connected; and

means for rotating said liexible drive shafts simultaneously to rotate apair of wire wrapping bits connected to said flexible drive shafts andwrap a pair of wires, received by the wrapping bits, about a pair ofterminals.

8. A device for wrapping pairs of wires onto pairs of terminals spacedIapart by vario-us distances, which includes:

an adapter for receiving and supporting any one of a plurality ofsleeves in which pairs of wire wrapping bits are mounted for rotationand are spaced apart by various distances corresponding to the spacingbetween the pairs of spaced terminals; a pair of exible drive shafts,mounted for rotation within said adapter, t0 which the various spacedpairs of Wire Wrapping bits may be connected; and 10 means for rotatingsaid @flexible drive shafts simultaneously to rotate the wire wrappingbits and wrap pairs of wires, received by the wrapping bits, about thepairs of terminals. 9. A device for wrapping pairs of Wires onto pairsof terminals spaced apart by various distances, as set forth in claim 8,which includes means for adjusting the' angular position of said adapterrelative to the device to permit the wrapping of pairs of wires ontopairs of terminals arranged in various angular configurations.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,028,108 4/1962 Bos et al. 242-73,054,165 9/1962 Braun et al. 140124 3,122,826 3/1964 Self 242-7 CHARLESW. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

LOWELL A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

